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Slack’s CEO Doesn’t Want Workers Suffering Through Long Work Weeks

If you work at the Slack offices you are familiar with this motto: “Work hard and go home.”

A new profile for Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield in Inc. magazine explains the company’s motto and his personal philosophy on work-life balance.

On a typical day the Slack officers are empty by 6:30 pm.

The profile says Butterfield used to expect his workers to pull 60-plus hours a week, however, they all now have families so they have been careful to make sure Slack is a place “where grownups with lives feel welcome.”

Butterfield’s stance is growing in Silicon Valley. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in November that he would take at least two months’ paternity leave when his first child is born.

Spotify, Netflix, and other companies are following this trend, telling employees to take more time off and enjoy that time with their family and friends.

The biggest draw for giving more time off and emptying the office earlier? Company’s are beginning to realize that Millennials want to set their own hours and work outside of the office with full connectivity.

It all comes back to the idea that working longer hours doesn’t necessarily mean you are working better. Remember to work smart and you can drastically reduce the numbers of hours you have to work each week.